A handful of citizens from around Helena joined a national movement Saturday by quizzing city commissioners and candidates on issues pertaining to global warming.

Part of a national movement known as "Step It Up," the forum -- like others held around the country Saturday -- was aimed at pushing political leaders to make smarter choices in curtailing global warming, while exposing those who don't.

Commissioners Sandy Oitzinger and Alan Peura, joined by commission candidates Matt Elsaesser and Jack Stultz, fielded an array of questions relating to alternative energy, power generation, recycling, and promoting locally grown foods.

On the topic of energy, one audience member noted that both Helena and Missoula turned down the chance to purchase power from a proposed coal-fired plant near Great Falls.

With that in mind, the panel was asked what other energy sources Helena might explore in the future.

Oitzinger said she's been working to promote small-scale power generation, including the use of solar panels.

Marysville, she added, is the only area locally where wind energy would be efficient.

"Despite the fact that improved technology has helped reduce transmission losses, I still believe small is beautiful," Oitzinger said. "I don't know if we -- any longer -- have the ability to generate power to place out on the grid as a city, but I know we can generate power for our own use."

Peura also addressed the topic, saying the city can work to become more efficient on a variety of fronts.

In some ways, he said, the effort has already begun.

"At our wastewater treatment plant, methane is a byproduct of the process of treating wastewater," he said. "We're capturing that methane and we're now using it -- investing it -- back into the treatment process at our wastewater plant."

Even with that in mind, Peura said, the city can improve its efficiency. Local government, he noted, should take the lead in generation, whether it's through solar energy or creating incentives for citizens to reduce their own consumption of power and water.

As an example, Peura said, the city currently charges a building fee for erecting solar panels. There may be a way the city can reduce that fee, he said, making it more affordable for the average consumer.

"As a large user of energy, the city must also begin to step up its pressure for better state policies," Peura said. "I think we should expect that we can do better."

Part of the issue, the panel agreed, is the risk that purchasing green power could prevent low-income households from participating in a clean energy economy.

Peura said one option would be to create a tiered rate structure in which those who keep their consumption below a certain rate would earn a discount. Those who cross the threshold would pay more.

"We can create incentives for conservation through economic opportunity," he said. "That's one way we can bring low- to moderate-income neighbors into this effort, through conservation, incentive-based utility rates."

Elsaesser added that solar energy provides a good opportunity for everyone.

"There are a lot of programs out where they've found ways we can work toward alternative energy while helping low-income households with energy and conservation," Elsaesser said. "The city can be involved in that."

Saturday's event came on the heels of a spring rally that produced more than 1,400 events in all 50 states, resulting in one of the largest global warming events ever held in the country.

Organizers behind Saturday's event planned the discussion with next year's elections in mind. The hope, they said, is that focused talks on global warming will eventually reveal the "intense concern of ordinary Americans and the leadership vacuum in Washington."

Shifting topics from power to food, the panel was asked how the city could support community farms and homegrown products.

Stultz, a commission candidate, said he supports organizations working on community garden projects. It's up to local government, he said, to help make community garden projects more viable.

"There are opportunities all over this town for community gardens," he said. "You could have them in all neighborhoods across the city and across the county."

Peura added that it's up to community leaders to help citizens recognize the importance of supporting the local economy.

He spoke on the issue at length, suggesting the future of Helena's downtown economy could be jeopardized by the city's influx of discount warehouses.

"When you pull out your wallet and go to Costco, sure, you save money, but what you do is you stop paying for a local economy," he said. "You're now paying for food that comes from all over the world. You're adding food miles to what goes on your kitchen table."

Commissioners, he said, must remind citizens that while they may save money at Costco or Wal-Mart, they're doing little to support Helena and what it stands for.

"When you buy locally, what you're buying is community -- what you're buying is ambience," he said. "Is it low prices at Costco that make us feel fulfilled as human beings, or is it the community that touches our hearts and resonates with our souls? I would argue it's the latter."

That, Peura said, is something commissioners must do to advance the issue -- remind consumers that the cost of lower prices leads to the loss of community. The impacts, he added, may go beyond that.

"It contributes to global warming via food miles and other things, and it also leads to the deterioration of our downtown," he said. "It deteriorates the walk-ability of our city, and it deteriorates what has made Helena the most special community in the world."

On recycling, Elsaesser said the city must take the issue more serious than it has in the past.

"I think there needs to be a focus that takes these services seriously," he said. "The tangible things have been talked about for decades. We just need to have a constant focus on them to get them in place. A lot of it is going to be accepting a more complicated infrastructure."

Reporter Martin Kidston: 447-4086, or mkidston@helenair. com